Uxbridge woman helps in recovery efforts in cyclone hit Zimbabwe

A WOMAN who grew up in Uxbridge is using a small family farm in Zimbabwe to offer hope to communities torn apart by Cyclone Idai.

With unemployment in the country said to be at more than 80%, more and more Zimbabweans are starting their own businesses to support their families.

Dombera Farm, an export business, aims to build on its existing work with farmers by providing seedlings from its nursery, offering packing for fresh produce and providing affordable transport to those living and working in the area.

Claire Bailey said: “We were incredibly lucky not to lose a single life on Dombera as part of Cyclone Idai. However, the storm destroyed our dams and our water supply for the year ahead.

“Our people support more than 1,000 dependants on the farm and across Zimbabwe. If we cannot raise sufficient funds to restore water to the farm, we will be adding to the already massive humanitarian crisis when we know we can offer part of the solution.

“We have started a GoFundMe Campaign to repair and improve the facilities provided by the farm but we will only succeed if the wider world gets behind us.”

Dombera Farm produces passion fruit, stone fruit (peaches and nectarines) and cut flowers for export to the UK and Europe.

The farm has been managed by the Bailey family since 1962.

Claire Collyer grew up in Uxbridge and was an active member of 1st Uxbridge Scouts and represented Middlesex at the World Scout Jamboree in 1995.

She attended the Royal Agricultural University where she met her husband, Allan